Profiles in Terpage - A Countdown to the Football Season: Andre Monroe

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Andre Monroe, Junior, Defensive Tackle, #93

via grfx.cstv.com

Stats:

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 280

Twitter: @dre_kang

Collegiate Stats: 18 tackles (11 assisted), seven and a half for a loss, five sacks

High School Stats (Senior Year): 61 tackles, 18 for a loss

Recruiting Ratings: Three stars by Scout (#86 DT), ESPN (#57 DT), two stars by Rivals (#56 DT).

High School: St. John's College

Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD

High School Highlights Highlight: Shortest highlight film ever?

How'd he get to College Park?

Monroe was always pretty confident in his decision to go to Maryland, not even bothering to name a runner up during his recruiting. Locally, he was a very good player, who was named All-Met and All-City, as well as racking up All-Conference honors his senior year. He was also recruited by New Mexico, when now offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was the head coach there.

For more on his recruitment, I'll toss it over to Pete, who described how Monroe ended up as a Terp in his profile last season:

Monroe was one of the better defensive tackles in the WCAC (being twice named all-conference), and his coach Joe Patterson called him the best defensive tackle he's ever coached.

...Monroe ended up choosing College Park because of its proximity to home and his connection with the players, namely Pete White, a teammate at St. John's. When asked later about his recruitment, Monroe said he didn't even have a runner-up - that's how sure he was about Maryland.

Monroe redshirted his freshman year and during his sophomore season, came out of nowhere to earn freshman All-American honors as he lead the Terps in sacks and tackles for a loss.

Unfortunately for Monroe, he injured his knee last August and was lost for the season. (Looking back on that injury now and how upset we were is kind of funny, considering, you know, how many more injuries were still coming down the pike). Monroe was looking to claim a starting spot last season and will start out 2013 backing up Keith Bowers.

Nickname:

Andre "Dre" Monroe

Career Highlight:

Being named a freshman All-American

Dream Season:

Monroe picks up where he left off in 2011 and claims the starting spot from Bowers as he leads the team in sacks.

2013 Prospectus:

Despite not being at the top of the preseason depth chart, Monroe should continue to fight with Bowers for a starting spot in 2013. Even if Bowers edges Monroe out, both players should see significant playing time after the departure of Joe Vellano and A.J. Francis.

Monroe has a great ability to penetrate through the opposition's o-line and get to the quarterback. Assuming he can regain the form he had in 2011, when he led the team in sacks and tackles for a loss, despite only playing in nine games and starting just four of them. So even if he's in a backup role, Monroe has shown in the past that he can contribute, even when he's not starting. Regardless, he should be a bright spot on this team's defense.

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